After Transmigration, I Picked Up A Husband and Daughter
Chapter 182: The Selfish Character

Chapter 182: Chapter 182: The Selfish Character

Jiang Xunzhong’s voice, tinged with dissatisfaction, complained to Lady Zhao, "How could Da Ya be sold just like that? Isn’t that just asking to be criticized behind our backs? The second son has clearly demarcated the boundary this time. In our old age, when our bodies are frail, won’t we still have to rely on Xinghua from our eldest son’s family? You sold his own flesh and blood, aren’t you afraid of harboring a lifetime of resentment?"

Upon hearing this, Lady Zhao’s face flashed with disdain. She flared her nostrils slightly and let out a contemptuous snort through her nose, soft yet unyieldingly resolute, "What’s there to fear? Let others talk if they want. What I’m after is the actual silver taels. Moreover, don’t we still have Dazhuang at home? Do we need her to bother with those trifles? Don’t forget, I was almost ruined by that girl. How could I possibly swallow this grievance?"

Outside the door, Xie Xinghua quietly listened to the conversation inside, her lips involuntarily curving into a cold smirk.

She had originally thought her father-in-law was a reasonable man, but it turned out he too feared the gossip of others, anxious about having no one to depend on in old age.

This realization caused her heart to sink, but it also further solidified a certain resolve.

"Although you say that, you still can’t..."

Jiang Xunzhong wanted to continue persuading but was abruptly cut off by Lady Zhao.

"Enough, enough, let’s stop talking about it. The deed is done, and by now, that child might already be in someone else’s home, finding her again would be like searching for a needle in a haystack. Getting upset over a servant girl isn’t worth it."

Jiang Xunzhong sighed helplessly, a flicker of complex emotion crossing his eyes.

After all, she was a girl and it was difficult to justify such matters, but deep down, he didn’t feel too opposed to it.

Xie Xinghua took a deep breath to compose herself and, holding a bowl of seemingly ordinary but secretly tampered noodles, slowly pushed open the door.

Her stride was steady as she gently placed the bowl on the table, then stood quietly to the side, her posture respectful but with an imperceptible chill.

Seeing her not leave, Lady Zhao spoke irritably, "Why are you standing there gawking? Haven’t you got other things to do?"

"Of course, I am waiting here to clean up the bowl and chopsticks after you have finished," Xie Xinghua replied calmly and naturally, but her answer unsettled Lady Zhao, giving her a sense of unease as if something subtle was shifting.

Ravenous, Lady Zhao didn’t think twice. She impatiently picked up the chopsticks and started gobbling down the food, completely immersed in the momentary satisfaction it provided.

Xie Xinghua watched quietly from aside, the corners of her mouth tilting slightly upwards, hiding a hint of mockery and scheming.

It wasn’t until the noodles were half-eaten that Lady Zhao suddenly discovered several large earthworms mixed in with the strands, wriggling conspicuously and disgustingly amidst them.

The shock was immense, and Lady Zhao screamed loudly, throwing her chopsticks away in horror as her body involuntarily bent over and she began retching violently.

At that moment, Xie Xinghua quickly approached, patting Lady Zhao’s back with apparent concern but her voice tinged with mockery, "Mother-in-law, what’s the matter with you? I have heard that earthworms can clear heat and detoxify, and they are also good for the heart, so I specially dug them up for you in the backyard."

"You... you..."

Lady Zhao was seething with anger, the overwhelming disgust and rage rendering her nearly speechless, leaving only intermittent gasps for air and the sound of vomiting.

Jiang Xunzhong saw the situation and stepped forward, trying to play the role of a just person and sternly reproached Xie Xinghua, "Xinghua, what you’re doing is really going too far."

His voice carried both reprimand and a hint of helplessness as he tried to maintain a superficial balance in this family storm.

Xie Xinghua’s gaze was like cold ice, sharply and indifferently piercing through Jiang Xunzhong’s pretense. Her voice was devoid of any warmth, "Too much? In my dictionary, the term ’too much’ is far from being fully utilized. If the elders really think so, then wait and see. I, Xie Xinghua, have many more tactics you can’t even begin to imagine."

With those words, she turned away disdainfully, her skirt gently sweeping over the threshold, each step carrying an undeniable finality.

Jiang Xunzhong hurried after her, his heart filled with mixed feelings. Although he had plans to rely on Xie Xinghua for his twilight years, he did not wish for this delicate balance to collapse completely because of a temporary dispute.

"Xinghua, blood is thicker than water. Family should always talk things out nicely. Why must you..."

However, Xie Xinghua abruptly cut off Jiang Xunzhong’s words. Her words were like sharp arrows hitting their mark, "Stop pretending here. You’re not so clean yourself. All sweetness and light on the surface, but behind the back, no different from Lady Zhao, both selfish and self-interested."

Jiang Xunzhong was left red-faced and choking on this unexpected accusation, inwardly astonished. When had the always-docile Xie Xinghua become so harsh and acerbic?

He truly knew nothing about the selling of Da Ya, nor had he ever shown approval, but what was done was done, and life must go on. Escaping was not a solution.

Jiang Xunzhong tried to look innocent, his voice containing a plea, "Xinghua, how can you misunderstand me so? I’m just as anxious about Da Ya’s situation. I pressed your mother-in-law yesterday to go out and search with me, and that’s the best proof."

"Da Ya has always been closest to me since we were young. The bond between us is deep and sincere. Now that she has suffered misfortune, it’s as if my heart is being cut to pieces, and I am feeling almost too much pain to live!"

Xie Xinghua sneered at this performance, her tone full of disdain, "Too much pain to live? It seems to me you are just trying to avoid becoming the target of the neighbors’ spittle."

"Such words might deceive others, but they cannot fool your own heart. Do you think that occasionally losing your temper in front of Lady Zhao or putting on a front for others makes you a real man? In reality, you’re still that same timid and weak character who goes with the flow."

In Xie Xinghua’s crystal-clear heart, Jiang Xunzhong and Lady Zhao were no different, both selfish.

His past endurance was simply because Lady Zhao had not directly invaded his own interests.

He had never truly cared about the future of his children, Changping and Ziling, only worrying about the gossip of outsiders.

Thus, he used his supposed fearfulness as a cover, secretly giving little favors to the children, attempting to buy inner peace in this way.

As soon as Lady Zhao hindered these small acts of kindness, he would immediately back off and look on passively.

He enjoyed the fleeting satisfaction of being seen as a good person, then effortlessly shirked all responsibility, continuing to play the role of the oblivious innocent.

Lately, he had suddenly shown an unusual firmness in front of Lady Zhao, but this was more of a performance, a facade existing for the gaze of others.

Just like yesterday’s scene, he staged a pity play in front of everyone, forcing Lady Zhao to retrieve Da Ya, garnering the sympathy and approval of the villagers.